Thursday 23 July 2015 01:03, UK
Jason Roy smashed a brilliant 122 not out as Surrey kept alive their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals from the South Group in the NatWest T20 Blast by defeating Somerset by 38 runs at the Oval.
The hosts batted first and racked up 208-1, England man Roy’s second T20 ton coming off 55 balls and featuring six maximums and eight fours.
After Kumar Sangakkara went for 31, Rory Burns came to the crease and made 46 off 33 himself, helping Roy to add 124 for the second wicket in 11 overs.
Struggling Somerset were looking to avoid a fourth T20 loss in a row but they fell well short, James Hildreth top scoring with 51 in their 170-7.
The race for qualification places behind Kent is tight but Hampshire are very much in the mix after a thrilling four-run win over second-placed Sussex at Hove.
Hampshire batted first and appeared to be hot favourites after amassing 204-3.
Opener James Vince made an unbeaten 90 from 62 balls and was ably supported by Adam Wheater (51 off 27) and the experienced Owais Shah (40 off 23).
However, Sussex put themselves on course for an unlikely win when Chris Nash and Luke Wright (42) put on 98 for the opening wicket inside 10 overs.
Nash fell for a career-best 88 in the 17th over and George Bailey (33) went three balls later but successive sixes from Craig Cachopa (23 not out) in the penultimate over got the equation down to 10 from the last six balls.
However, former Sussex bowler Yasir Arafat (1-40) came back to haunt his old club with a brilliant final over which cost just five singles and the hosts finished on 200-6.
Glamorgan also still have a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals after a thrilling one-run win over leaders Kent at Tunbridge Wells.
After Glamorgan made 179-7, Kent needed 15 off the last over to make it six T20 wins in succession.
Michael Hogan (3-40) took the ball and the dangerous Darren Stevens (29) fell to a running catch by Chris Cooke at long-off before, with three required off the final delivery, Calum Hagget was run out looking to tie it by taking a second run to deep point, as Kent finished on 178-8.
Joe Denly had earlier made 70 from 36 balls to get Kent off to a great start while Graham Wagg scored an absolutely crucial 53 not out off 28 towards the end of the Glamorgan innings.
Essex are yet another side who are in the congested picture for a top four place after they defeated bottom-placed Middlesex by four wickets at Chelmsford.
Opener Nick Gubbins made 46 for Middlesex as the visitors made 150-5 but Jesse Ryder then put Essex in complete control with 59 from 27, featuring two sixes and eight fours.
Tom Westley added 45 and, although Essex lost a pair of wickets on 150, they cruised home with eight balls to spare.
